Calvin Johnson’s Hall of Fame speech included a lot of what you hear from most acceptance speeches. Revisiting his favorite moments, taking plenty of time to thank the teammates, coaches, and family members who helped pave the way for his success, and a joke or two.
But there was one part of Johnson’s speech that was completely unique, and it was at the core of his entire message: pain management.
Johnson kicked off his speech talking about a back injury he suffered during his rookie season.
“It was so bad in the moment, I couldn’t feel my legs, and I thought my career would be over,” Johnson said.